Fresh hope for Lavant House School to remain open

The independent all-girls school revealed on Monday that it would have to close at the end of the summer term due to falling numbers in pupils and an ‘increasingly untenable’ financial situation.

However, after last night’s meeting, parents have set up a crowd funding appeal to raise the funds and save the beloved school.

“It is the most fantastic place in the world,” said parent Mary Compeau, who has two daughters at Lavant House.

“It would have such a detrimental effect to my daughters if they had to move schools now, especially as one is halfway through her GCSEs.

“I love the school – words cannot describe how brilliant it is. The teachers are just the most amazing people I have ever met.”

Mary set up the fundraising page last night, and since going live at 6am this morning the site has already seen more than £17,000 in donations.

“I hope we can save the school,” added Mary. “I am starting to think it is a real possibility with the amount of donations we have had already.”

Alan Goodger, parent and chairman of Lavant House parents and friends association, said: “When people say your school days are the best days of your life it usually isn’t true – but in this place it is.

“We are all fighting very hard to keep it – it is such a gem.

He added: “There are very few all-girls schools left in the south, if the school is allowed to go and is changed into flats or a hotel it will change the nature of Lavant entirely.”

To take a look at the crowd funder page, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-lavant-house-school

Get your Chichester Observer newspaper for just 38p per week for a year!

Your Chichester Observer newspaper costs £1.05 each week - BUT if you buy a year’s subscription before June 4, 2016, you can enjoy a massive saving which works out at just 38p an edition.

Subscribe and read your favourite weekly, the Chichester, or Bognor Regis, or Midhurst & Petworth Observer, for 12 months for a one off advance payment of £19.76 - that works out at just 38p a copy for an entire year!

And as a valued subscriber you’ll continue to receive a 20% discount even after the initial 12 month offer has ended.

Once you’ve subscribed we’ll send you dated coupons to use instead of cash when paying for your Observer.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer simply click simply click here and enter the offer code - 277PA-CCO.

Hurry though as offer ends on June 4, 2016.

Terms & Conditions: Offer valid to new customers only when paying by a one off direct debit charge of £19.76. Minimum 12 months subscription. Offer ends Saturday 4th June 2016. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.